In a fiercely contested premium compact SUV segment, customers are typically split between two main priorities: prestige or best value for money. The 2025 Acura RDX tends to favor the latter. While sharp-looking, this premium compact crossover lacks the 'prestige' tag its German rivals, like the BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC offer. Yet it offers a comparable ownership experience at a fraction of the cost of its established rivals. ...

7.5/10

Genesis has reached the difficult part of building a luxury brand. The South Korean automaker has spent its first decade proving it could build luxury cars buyers would actually cross-shop with the Germans. What it has always lacked, though, is a true performance identity of its own. That gap is what Magma is meant to fill. The orange performance label has been circling the brand for a while through cars like the GV80 Coupe Concept, G80 Magma Special, and X Gran Berlinetta. What started out looking like little more than a dramatic paint code has since grown into a real performance division, shaped in part by racing legend Jacky Ickx and backed by Genesis's promise to give every model its own high-output Magma variant. ...

Toyota just pulled the wraps off the GRMN Corolla - the first time the GR badge has worn the even rarer “Meister of the Nürburgring” initials on a US-bound Corolla. Until now, the hottest version you could buy was the 300-hp GR Corolla, a manual-only oddball that already gave the Honda Civic Type R, the Volkswagen Golf R, and the Acura Integra Type S serious competition. ...

After a three-year hiatus, one of Jeep’s most important nameplates is back. The nameplate that helped define the modern SUV in the 1980s and 1990s comes back wearing a boxier, upright shape that nods to those earlier models while ditching the polarizing curves of its 2014-2023 predecessor. But by the time it disappeared after 2023, the segment had moved on, leaving Jeep without a direct answer to the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, or the Subaru Forester. ...

After more than a decade on sale and more than 90,000 combined RC and RC F units sold across 62 countries and regions, Lexus has confirmed that production of the RC line ends after the 2025 model year, and that instantly changes the way we look at it. This is no longer just an aging two-door trying to keep up with the BMW 4 Series, the Mercedes-Benz CLE, the Audi A5, or the Genesis G70-based alternatives in the luxury segment. It is Lexus’ last traditional compact coupe, a car from an older playbook being sold in a market that has mostly moved on. ...

8.4/10

Porsche has built plenty of open-top 911s, and it has built plenty of GT3s, but it has always kept those two worlds carefully separated. The 911 Speedster came close in spirit, especially the 2019 model, but that was a limited-run nostalgia piece with its own sense of ceremony. The GT3 S/C is Porsche’s first GT3 with a fully automatic convertible roof; it’s the only open-top 911 in the current lineup that’s also a strict two-seater, and it keeps the GT3’s naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six 502-horsepower engine paired exclusively with a manual gearbox. ...

The Porsche 911 GT3 has spent 25 years proving that a sports car does not need more complexity to get better. That matters now more than ever, because the segment is full of turbocharged and electrified machines chasing bigger numbers, while the GT3 still sticks to the harder route. Between the winged 911 GT3, the GT3 Touring, and the more extreme GT3 RS, Porsche now sells every major flavor the badge has grown into, at the same time. ...

8.5/10

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has been in continuous production since 1989 and holds the record as the best-selling two-seat roadster in the world. It seats two, weighs under 2,444 pounds, and puts a naturally aspirated four-cylinder behind the front axle to drive the rear wheels. The current fourth generation, known internally as the ND, launched in 2016. The 2024 model year brought the most significant mechanical update to the ND platform since launch. The 2025 model year carries all of those changes forward unchanged. Two body styles are available: the soft top with a manually operated black cloth top and the RF, Retractable Fastback, with a power-operated hardtop. A 181-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four is the engine that serves the entire lineup. The 2025 lineup adds one new variant, the 35th Anniversary Edition. ...

8.0/10

Positioned at the more accessible end of Lincoln's range, the 2025 Lincoln Corsair serves as the brand's entry point into the luxury SUV segment. Built on Ford's C2 platform, it shares parts with models like the Escape and Bronco Sport. While it may not offer the size or outright sophistication of larger stablemates such as the Aviator or Navigator, the Corsair is clearly engineered to deliver a scaled-down version of Lincoln's premium experience. ...

8.6/10

Volkswagen introduced the Taos for the 2022 model year as a subcompact crossover model below the Tiguan in its US SUV lineup. It fills a gap against the wave of smaller, more affordable entries from Hyundai, Kia, Honda, and Toyota. The 2025 model receives the most significant update the Taos has had since launch. Among the various updates, Volkswagen increased horsepower from 158 to 174. Four trims are available. The Taos competes with the Honda HR-V and the Hyundai Kona. The HR-V offers a more refined ride and a stronger reliability reputation. The Kona offers more standard technology and a sharper exterior design. What the Taos has over both is class-leading cargo space and one of the more spacious cabins in the segment for taller occupants. ...

7.6/10

The 2025 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance sits atop the IS lineup, and it takes a different approach to the compact sport sedan formula than its German rivals do. Its naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 sends 472 horsepower to the rear wheels, which is plenty for this segment, though a BMW M3 or Audi S4 would still pull away in a straight-line sprint. Rather than chasing pure straight-line speed, the IS 500 prioritizes a relaxed, easy-to-live-with driving character, which should resonate with buyers looking for a middle ground between comfort and agility rather than outright track performance. That same philosophy carries into the cabin, where solid materials and a clean, sensible tech setup give the car an upscale feel reminiscent of Lexus's bigger sedans, even if the outright cabin space falls a bit short of some rivals in the class. ...

8.3/10

Czinger came out of nowhere, yet its first attempt - the 21C - lands like a manifesto on wheels. Limited to just 80 Los Angeles-built cars, it pairs a 2.88-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes up to 1,350 hp with three electric motors, then bolts that hybrid heart into a 3D-printed chassis whose skeletal "Bio-Logic" joints were sculpted by Czinger's Human-AI design software rather than a traditional CAD workstation. The payoff is tangible. It ran Goodwood in 48.82 s and Laguna Seca in 1:24.75, setting 2024 production-car records at both tracks. ...

The 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is Jeep's attempt to challenge the full-size luxury SUV segment. The standard wheelbase model is already cavernous, but Jeep also sells the Grand Wagoneer L, a version that stretches 12 inches longer overall, translating into an additional 15.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third seating row. Second-row captain's chairs bring the seating total to seven, while an optional bench in the row can add space for an additional passenger. Jeep also boasts the fact that the Wagoneer L can comfortably seat adults in the third row. The Wagoneer also boasts a powertrain to match its size, with power coming from a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter Hurricane six-cylinder engine producing a commendable 540 horsepower. The key question remains whether the Grand Wagoneer can keep up with rivals such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator in a highly competitive segment. ...

8.5/10

The Mazda CX-30 has quietly grown into one of the most convincing compact crossovers on sale. It was introduced in 2019 as the brand's answer to buyers wanting something smaller than the CX-5 but more refined than the Mazda3 hatchback. Built on the same platform as the Mazda3, it has always focused on delivering a more premium feel without straying into luxury car pricing. That philosophy carries into 2025. Standard models make 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque from a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while turbocharged trims lift outputs to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft on premium fuel (or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular). It goes head-to-head with the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Hyundai Kona. With the compact crossover segment already packed with capable contenders, let's take a closer look to see if the CX-30 has enough in its arsenal to come out on top. ...

8.6/10

Bentley spent most of its history building grand tourers and luxury sedans, yet the car carrying the brand today is an SUV. The Bentayga accounted for 44 percent of Bentley's global sales in 2023—an extraordinary result for a model that did not exist until 2015. It did more than give Bentley a new body style; it helped turn the ultra-luxury SUV from a questionable idea into one of the industry’s most profitable segments. ...

8.3/10

The Subaru Ascent is Subaru's entry into the highly competitive midsize three-row SUV segment, offering seating for up to eight passengers along with the brand's signature standard all-wheel-drive system. Designed with family use in mind, the Ascent prioritizes practicality, safety, and all-weather capability over outright performance. ...

7.5/10

Kia’s EV6 crossover receives its first major update for 2025, and it arrives at the right time. When the EV6 first launched, it stood out by looking sharper, charging faster, and feeling more interesting than most mainstream electric crossovers. But the segment has moved quickly since then, and what once felt fresh now has to work harder against rivals like the Tesla Model Y and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. ...

7.9/10

The ID.4 first went on sale in the United States in 2021, built on Volkswagen's MEB platform designed for electric vehicles. It was the first electric vehicle assembled in the US at Volkswagen's Chattanooga, Tennessee plant. The 2025 lineup spans seven configurations across two battery sizes and two drivetrains, producing between 201 and 335 horsepower, with an EPA range from 206 miles to 291 miles. The ID.4 competes with the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Chevrolet Equinox EV. The Model Y leads the pack with its wider charging network and infotainment system. The Ioniq 5 stands out for its bold retro styling and its ability to charge quickly. The Equinox EV offers an impressive driving range and a tech-forward dashboard. ...

8.1/10

The Subaru Solterra has come a long way since its somewhat underwhelming debut, steadily refining its formula into a more convincing electric crossover. For 2025, Subaru's all-electric SUV packs a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup producing 215 horsepower, while continuing to lean on the brand's rugged image and standard AWD capability. That puts it squarely in the crosshairs of rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, two of the segment's benchmark EVs that have helped raise expectations for range, charging speed, and everyday usability. The Solterra may not dominate the spec sheet, but years of incremental improvements have made it a far more compelling contender than before. Can Subaru's outdoorsy EV finally go toe-to-toe with the class leaders? Let's take a closer look and find out. ...

7.1/10

The Bentley Continental GT has always carried more weight than most grand tourers. When the first one arrived in 2003, it did not just give Bentley a modern flagship coupe; it helped redefine what the brand could be in the 21st century. This was the car that took Bentley from an old-money curiosity to a serious global luxury-performance player. Now, more than two decades later, that job has not really changed, but the way Bentley goes about it has. ...

8.3/10